French President Emmanuel Macron has noted the importance of the Jonquières-Fos power line, critical infrastructure essential for the industrial projects of ArcelorMittal France, Marcegaglia Fos-sur-Mer, green steel developer GravitHy, Kallanish notes.
The 400kV high-voltage power line is being built and operated by Réseau de Transport d’Electricité RTE to supply the Fos-sur-Mer industrial zone near Marseille.
The existing grid cannot meet the growing electricity needs of the area, which hosts major industrial projects in green steel, hydrogen and other sectors. The line, capable of carrying large amounts of electricity long distance, is considered essential for the decarbonisation and reindustrialisation of the southern Mediterranean corridor.
“I welcome RTE’s commitment to concretely accelerating connection timelines. These are investments for the major industrial and port zones: Dunkirk, Le Havre, Fos. France’s major ports are competitive locations for new industries and these are the accelerations they need,” Macron said at a meeting of the electrification team France held at the Élysée Palace earlier this week.
“I also welcome Enedis’ efforts, which is committed to connecting these electrification projects 30% faster than before. We will need to build new power lines as part of this connection effort. This is the case in particular for the line that must supply the Fos industrial zone. This line is necessary,” he added.
He vowed to have the line enhanced and operational by 2029.
Its completion will significantly reinforce the electrical supply capacity of the entire Fos-Étang de Berre area. The line’s enhancement is part of the electrification programme, Fos Berre Provence 2030, a French infrastructure initiative led by RTE to massively reinforce the electricity supply to the Fos-sur-Mer and Étang de Berre industrial zone.
According to RTE’s project presentation, seen by Kallanish, the south-east’s very high voltage grid dates from the 1970s and is no longer fit for purpose given rising electricity demand. With 60% of the region’s power coming from the Rhône valley, reinforcing the supply from the north has become essential. The electrification programme includes key works such as the reinforcement of existing 400,000-volt lines; the upgrading of a 225,000-volt line to 400,000 volts; and the construction of a new 400,000-volt overhead line between Fos-sur-Mer and Jonquières-Saint-Vincent.
